Risen Christ Catholic Church

March 10, 2006

Risen Christ Parish Center Lenten Fish Fry
3060 S. Monaco Parkway, Denver, CO
Cost: Adults $8, Children ages 5-13 $4, if family exceeds two adults and two children the whole family eats for $25. (Take-out is available)
March 3-17: 5-7 p.m.
http://www.risenchristchurch.org/

This must be a popular fish fry considering the number people that attended this dinner - the parking lot was crowded. But it was no problem finding a place to sit in the large room filled with tables. On the menu was fried fish, baked fish, baked potato, french fries, cole slaw, macaronie and cheese, and a little ice cream sundae cup. You could also purchase goodies from the bake sale going on in the next room. Drink options included coffee, lemonade, box wine (Burgundy or Chablis), and beer. Alcoholic drinks were no extra charge. Condiments available included tartar sauce, vinegar, Frank's Red Hot sauce, ketchup, and butter and sour cream for baked potatos.

The fried fish was a white fish - pollock or cod probably - with a crispy battered crust. It needed salt, but other than that it was quite good. The baked fish was the same type of fish served in a lemon herb sauce with capers(!). Other than being over-cooked, this was a very tasty option. Maybe it was the capers. The baked potato was just a typical baked potato wrapped in foil, and of course you could add butter and sour cream if you so desired. French fries were thick, but crisp and had a good salty flavor. I imagine some helpful paritioners made the homemade macaronie and cheese. It tasted good, but the serving I had was overcooked to the point that it looked like potato salad. However, I noticed others who came in a bit later got much better looking mac and cheese (with shells in tact), so maybe I just got served from an unfortunate batch. The cole slaw was a creamy mayo-based cabbage and carrots, and had a rich flavor that we couldn't quite place. Although I didn't try to get a second serving on my dinner, I doubt anyone would have minded if I did. And as if a tiny ice cream sundae wasn't enough to top of this dinner, ladies from the bake sale came around to the tables entice us with their homemade baked goods. There were slices of cake, cupcakes, and brownies which were offered at very reasonable prices: 25 cents for a large brownie, and 20 cents for smaller options.

We sat at the end of a long table alone and about midway through our dinner a nice couple (Helen and Forrest) came over and sat next to us. They were very friendly and we had a good time talking to them - we even stayed past "last call" for alcohol. I also got a great tip on another church to visit for a lenten fish fry! As we were leaving [we had to, they were packing up the tables], someone from the kitchen was going around offering fried pickles to those still left in the dining room. Helen took one and noted that it was very salty, but still I thought it was a nice touch. Something different. I felt very welcome and enjoyed my experience.

I give this Lenten fish fry three out of five Ichthus.